Railway block-signal.



No. 886,947. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. D. H. (JOKER & W. A. SGARBROUGH.

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ends of the block.

UNITED srnl ns r grnivr onnron.

DAVID H. COKER, OF PIEDMONT, AND WHITFIELD A. SCARBROUGH, OFOHOCCOLOCGO, ALABAMA.

RAILWAY BLOCK-SIGN AL.

Application filed April 3, 1907. Serial No. 366,161.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DAVID H. COKER and WHITFIELD A. SCARBROUGH,citizens of the United States, residing at Piedmont and Choccolocco,respectively, in the county of Calhoun and State of Alabama, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Railway Block-Signals, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a railway block signal system of that type inwhich semaphores or other signals at the ends of a block are dropped oractuated automatically as the train enters the block and are raised orthrown to inoperative position as the train leaves the block.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to becomparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, operate and keep inrepair, thoroughly and reliable and e cient in use and entirelyautomatic in operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a semaphore orother signal at each end of a block and the employment of electromagnets arranged to simultaneously actuate the semaphores to signalingposition as the train enters the block and to simultaneously throw thesemaphores to non-signaling position as the train leaves the block.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple form of switchactuating mechanisln adapted to be operated by the car wheels passingover the railroad track.

A still further object is the employment of means in connection with thesemaphore for assisting the electro magnets in operating the latter andholding the semaphore in either extreme position.

With these objects in view and others as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully describedhereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appendedhereto.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one of the embodiments ofthe invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of the block signalsystem. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the automatic switches at theFig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a verticalsection on line 4-4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

view of one of the semaphores anh associated parts. Fig. 6 is a detailsectional view of a portion of a semaphore.

Similar reference characters are em loyed to designate similar partsthroughout t e sev- At the ends of each section of blocl s are arrangedsemaphores or other suitable signals 3 and 4 that are adapted to besimultaneously actuated to a signaling position as a train enters theblock and to be actuated to a non-signalin position as the train passesout of the bloc The semaphores are operated by separate electro magnets5 and 6 included in independent circuits which are closed separately asa train enters and leaves the block. The electro magnets 5 and 6 arearranged in multi le relation in their respective circuits 7 an 8 and ineach circuit is included a battery 9 and an automatically ac- 'tuatedswitch 10 which opens and closes the circuit by the wheels of a trainpassing into and out of the block.

With a system constructed in this manner, the circuit 7 is closed by atrain passing in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, thussimultaneously energizing the electro magnets 5 to throw the semaphores3 and 4 into signaling position, the latter in front of the train and atthe leaving end of the block and the former at the rear of the train orentering end of the block. As the train passes out of the block, theswitch 10 of the circuit 8 is closed so that the electro magnets 6 areenergized and the semaphores returned to non-signaling position toindicate that the block is 0 en. In each circuit is a manually controlleswitch 1 1 whereby the circuits can be opened when a train is to be runinto the block and backed out again without passing through, thuspreventing the semaphore from being actuated.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, each automatic switch 10comprisesa casloo ing 11 suitably supported on one of the cross ties ofthe track and inclosing spring contacts 12 that'are normally held out ofengagement by their own tension and brought into contact by a head 13 ona rock-shaft 14 journaled in the chamber 15 of the tie 16 and disposed.under the rail 2, as shown clearly in Fig. 8, and on the shaft 14 anddisposed at the side of the rail opposite from the switch casing is ashoe or arm 16 disposed in such proximit to the head of the rail as tobe dejpresse by the flanges of the car wheels passing over the latter.Disposed over the shoe 16 is a shield 17 that serves to exclude dirt andother matter from the actuatin mechanism. The shoe 16 is held in normalposition 'by springs 18 suitably secured in the casing 11 anc bearing onthe head 13 at opposite sides of the shaft 14. The'contacts 12 aresuitably insulated and provided with binding posts 19 for connection inthe semaphore circuits. As the shoe 16 of the automatic switch isdepressed by the car wheels, the contacts 12 are brought into engagementby the rockingef the head 18 so that the electric circuit is completed.Each wheelof the cars actuates the shoe 16 so that there is a making andbreaking of the circuit at rapid intervals since the springs 18 returnthe shoe to normal position as soon as a wheel passes over the same.

The semaphores 3 and 4 are in practice mounted at the sides of the trackin any suitable manner as for instance in posts, one of which isdesignated by 20 in Fig. 5. On the post, the-sema hore is fulcrumed at21 in a housing 22, an arranged in the housing under the sema hore andat opposite sides of the fulcrum of the latter are the electro magnets 5and-6 and on the sema hore are armatures 23 cooperating with t e coresof the electro magnets.

In order to assist the electro magnets in operating the semaphore, aball or other suitable means 24 is arranged in a casing or holder 25carried on the semaphore and extending inequal distance on oppositesides of the fulcrum 21. The long arm of the sema hore iscounterbalanced by a'weight 26 and t e ball 24 serves to insure thetilting of the semaphore by rolling from one ,end of the casing 25 tothe other after the electro magnets have initially moved the semaphoreto such an extent as to disturb the equilibrium of the ball or weight24. In other words, after either electro magnet has moved the semaphoreslightly past a horizontal position, the ball 24 rolls to theoppositeend of the casingat an accelerated rate of'speed and causes thesemaphore to suddenly move to its final position. It will thus be seenthat the semaphores are extremely sensitive my reliable in operation.

I have described the princi le of operation of the invention, togetherWit 1-the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodimentthereof, but I desire to have it understood that the a paratus shown ismerely illustrative and that changes can be made when desired as arewithin the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the inventiom, what I claim is i I -1. Ina blocksignaling system, the combination of a semaphore fulcrumed for swingingmovement, electro magnets disposed under the semaphore and arranged atopposite sides'of the fulcrum of the semaphore, armatures carried by thesemaphoreand disposed above the electro magnets, said electro magnetsforming stops for limiting the movement of the semaphore in eitherdirection, and a movable body carried by the semaphore and movable toone side or the other-of the fulcrum point for holding the semaphoreinto either signaling or non-signalingposition.

2. In a block signaling system, the combination of a track,automatically closed switches disposed at suitable points along-thetrack, separate normally open circuits controlled by the switches, asource of current provided in each circuit a manually controlled switchin each circuit adjacent the automatic switch thereof, a semaphore adjacent each automatic switch, a weight supported on the semaphore forfree movement to one side or the other'of the fulcrum of the semaphore,and means carried by the semaphore and movable therewith for holdingtheweight in place electro magnets disposed on opposite sides of "thefulcrum points of the semaphores .and having their armatures mounteddirectly on the latter, and means for connecting the correspondingelectro magnets in the separate circuits to simultaneously throw thesemaphores intosignaling position when one circuit is closed and intonon-signaling-position when the other circuit is closed.

3. In a block signalin system, the combination of a sema-phore fu crumedfor a swinging movement, alternately actuated electro magnets disposedon opposite sides of the fulcrum, oint to swing the semaphore inopposite directions, separately controlled circuits connected with theelectro magnets, a weight movable on the semaphore from one side of itsfulcrum to the other, and means for holding the weight on the semaphore.

4. In a block signaling system, the combi.

crum point, a casing fixed on thesemaphore extending to opposite sidesof the fulcrum fulcrum point, and a movable body in the points, and amovable body in the casing for holder for assisting the electro magnetsin assisting in the tilting of the semaphore. tilting the semaphore.

6. In a block signaling system, the combi- In testimony whereof, Weaflix our signa- 15 nationhof af slupporti a hlouiing therelon, a turesin presence of two Witnesses. sema ore u crumec m t 1e ousing, e ectromagn ets having their armatures attached to g ggisggi g g k thesemaphore on opposite sides of the fulcrum point, a counterbalanceWeight on the l Witnesses:

semaphore, a holder secured to the sema- H. F. MONTGOMERY, phore andextending to opposite sides of the A. SHARPE STEWART.

